Time controlled flushing apparatus



Dec. 25, 1934,. R. B. COLEMAN TIME CONTROLLED FLUSHING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 6, 1932 6 INVENTOR I ofun Patented Dec. 25, .1934

UNITED STATES PA/TENT My invention relates to improvements in time controlled flushing apparatus.

The object of my invention is to provide a novel apparatus of the kind described, which is simple, cheap to install and operate, and with which different branches of a flushing system may be consecutively made active and' at measured intervals. v

The novel features of my invention are herei after fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing, which illustrates the preferred embodiment of my invention.

Fig. 1 is a view partly diagrammatic and partly in elevation and broken away of a flushing system provided with my improved time controlled apparatus. 1

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional View of one of the shutoff valves and one of the electromagnetic devices :associated with it.

Fig. 3 is .a section on the line 13-3 =o'f 1.

Similar reference characters designate :siniilar parts in the .iiiiferent views.

.1 designates :a f-fillid supply conductor, such as a water pipe, having branches 2 and 2-3, itheibranch i2 discharging into a urinal -.4 forithe iflushing thereof. The "branch 3 is shown provided with itwo' discharge arms 5 and B respectively discharge into two urinals f7 (and 8.

The branches 2 and 3 are provided respectively with two shut ofi? valve mechanisms, "which are .alike, so that a description :of one will suffice for each. 1

Referring to Rig. 2, 9 designates .z'a valveicasing having two chambers 10 and 111 vconnected .by a valve opening 12 which is rnormally closed l by a "valve 13 having a stem I14 extending downwardly into the lower chamber 11.

.The chamber 10 has a water inlet 15, and the I chamber 11 an outlet 16, .said inlet and outlet respectively communicating'with pipe portions of the branch containing the valve casing, 1 11s the "branch 2.

For periodically opening the valve 13, 2a .horizontal plunger 17 is slidably mounted in 'a'hole extending through the side wall of the valve casing 9. The inner end of the plunger "1'7 has an inclined upper side 18, which, when the plunger is forced inwardly engages the lower end of the stem 14, so as to open the valve 13 to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2,

The plunger 1'7 is normally forced outwardly to the position shown in solid lines in Fig. 2 by a coil spring 19 which encircles the plunger 1'7 at the outer side of the valve casing, one end of the spring bearing against the valve casing and its other end bearing against a head 20 provided on the plunger 17' at its outer end. To prevent leakage around the plunger 1'7 it is encircled by a stufflng box 21 mounted on a threaded boss 22 in the chamber 11, the stufiing box holding packing 23 against said boss 22 and plunger 1'7.

For forcing the plunger 1'7 inwardly so as to open the valve 13, there is provided an electromagnetic device comprising a vertical solenoid winding 24 in which is vertically reciprocatively mounted a magnetizable. core 25 of soft iron, the lower end of said core being attached to the upper end of a. rod .26 the lower end of which is pivoted on a horizontal axis to the outer end of a horizontal bar 27, which extends through and is vertically tiltable in an externally threaded ring 28 .is fitted in a threaded recess 29 in the outer side (of the casing 9 and concentric with the plunger "The inner end of the bar 2'7 has a head 30 wh'ich bfears against the inner end of the 28 which head has a rounded inner side against which bears the head 20 of the plunger 17..

When the winding 24 of thesolenoid is energized,'-will;.attraet upwardly the core 25, which loosely :fifited in the winding, thereby upwardly tilting "the adjacent end of the bar 27, which bear- I ingeagainst the inner end of the ring 28 will :force inwardly the plunger 1'7, thereby lifting the valve 13 to'the open position, as has been described.

As soon as the winding 24 deenergizes, the core 25 will lower with the-outer end of the bar 2'? to ithe inactive position shown in solid lines in 2. :The coil spring 19 will force the plunger 1'7 outwardly to its inactive position shown in:

solid lines in Fig. 2.

For energizing the windings 24, they are located in multiple in an electric circuit which includes a feed conductor 31 connected to one terminal :so'f :an electric generator 32, the other terminal 'ofwhich isconnected to a return conductor 33.

Conductors 34 and 35 respectively connected to one set of terminals of the windings 24 are connected to the return conductor 33. -FI'hemther 44 having a shaft s extending through and revoluble in the base member 4c, and to which is fastened a contact member 46, of conductive material, and which has rubbing engagement with the contact ring 41, and which in each revolu-. tion makes contact with and breaks contact with the contacts 38 and 39 consecutively.

When the contact member 46 revolves clockwise, as viewed in Fig. 1, it will make contact with the contacts 38 and 39 consecutively. When in contact with contact 38, the current will pass from the feed conductor 31 to and through the conductor 42, contact ring 41, contact member 46, contact 38, conductor 36, winding 24 connected therewith, conductor 34 and return conductor 33 to the generator 32. The said winding 24 will thus be energized, thereby causing the adjacent core 25 and rod 26 to move upwardly, thus swing upwardly the adjacent bar 2'7 which will force inwardly the plunger 17, which, in turn will force the stem 14 and its valve 13 to the open position, upon which water will pass from the supply conductor 1 through the branch 3, and arms 5 and 6 thereof into the urinals 7 and 8 so as to flush the latter.

When the contact member passes off from the contact 38, the circuit through the windingf24 connected therewith will be broken, and the core 25, rod 26 and bar 2'? adjacent thereto will lower, due to gravity and the force of the coil spring 19, to the position shown in solid lines in Fig. 2. At the same time the plunger 17 will be forced outwardly by the spring 19, thereby permitting the valve 13 to close and'thus shut oil the flow of water through the branch 3.

In a similar manner the'valve in branch 2 is operated when arm 46 engages contact 39.

While I have shown the supply conductor provided with but two branches containing solenoid controlled shut ofi valves, it is obvious that the number of branches so controlled may be increased, in which case additional contacts, such as the contacts 47 and 48 on the base member 40, may be disposed in the path of the contact member 46 and respectively connected in multiple circuit with the additional added branches, not shown.

From the foregoing it will be understood that with the employment of my improvement, a number of flushing devices may be automatically operated consecutively at spaced intervals of time.

Modifications of my invention, within the scope of the appended claim, may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention.

What I claim is:

In a urinal flushing apparatus, a plurality of urinals, a water,"'conducting means connected with and disposed so as to discharge into and flush said urinals independently of each other, and time controlled means controlling the passage-0f water through said conducting means by which Water is discharged therefrom into said urinals one after the other in consecutive order only.

RICHARD B. COLEMAN. 

